Memorandum device



Oct. 28, 1952 H. LATHROP 2,615,730

' MEMORANDUM DEVICE Filed March 14, 1951 i 9522192123312222 &\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ IN V EN TOR. /PVF/ Z 47/420P ma 4rroe7sy c Patented Oct. 28, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i v 2,s15,73o MEMORANDUM D VICE 7 Harvey Lathrop; Forest Hills, N. Y. Application March 14, 1951, Serial No. 215,521

1 Claim. (01. 281-6) My present invention relates generally to memorandum devices.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device of pleasing appearance in which an extended length of paper can be accommodated in such a way that successive areas can be pulled into an exposed position in which the user can jot memoranda thereon.

A more particular object is to provide this device in a form which can be manufactured inexpensively and which nevertheless permits the se lective employment of a variety of attractive materials to impart to the finished product an appearance of quality and aesthetic appeal.

The device consists essentially of a box or enclosure conforming substantially to a triangular prism in which the triangular cross-section is substantially equilateral. More particularly, a pair of upstanding substantially triangular side Walls are secured to a front wall which slants rearwardly upward and to a, rear wall which slants rearwardly downward. These walls define a tent-like enclosure within which a strip of paper of extended length, preferably in the form of a roll arranged with its axis transverse to the side walls, can be easily accommodated. The box bottom is formed of overlying leaves the inner of which is hinged to the front wall and the outer of which is hinged to the rear wall. 1

An attractive feature of the invention lies in the fact that the device is of unique contour and appearance completely disguising its memorandum-pad utility. Its manner of use is also unique since the exposure of the paper for memorandum jotting purposes is accomplished by tilting the entire box rearwardly so that it rests on its rear wall and thus exposes the outer bottom leaf as a writing base. The paper from the roll emerges from the box around the free end of the inner leaf, and a retaining element or strip is preferably mounted adjacent the free end of the outer leaf so that the paper may be threaded beneath it. The paper roll remains concealed within the box at all times.

Other features of the invention reside in dimensioning of the parts so as to achieve the desired cooperative effects in an attractive manner; in the provision of a means for permitting the device to be readily reloaded; and in the construction of the parts in such a way that the front and rear walls, as well as the inner leaf of the box bottom, lend themselves well to monogramming or other embellishments.

I achieve the foregoing objects, and such other objects as may hereinafter appear or be pointed 2 out, in the manner illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawings in which-- Figure 1 is a perspective view of. a memorandum device of the present character, shown in its normal' closed condition; i

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the device tilted into condition for memorandum jotting;

Figure 3 is a similar'view; showing the box fully opened and in exploded relation to a paper roll;

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view along the line 4-4 of Figure2; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view along the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Each of the spaced side walls In is substantially equilaterally"triangular, although in the illustrative embodiment one of the corners has been rounded off for ornamental reasons. In the normal relationship of the parts of the device, the rounded ends of the side wallsare upward as shown in Figure 1.

Secured to the "'de walls isa front "wall I'll which extends rearwardly upward, and a rear wall l2 which extends rearwardly downward. The walls III, II and 12 define a tent-like 'en closure adapted tdaccommodate an extended length of memorandum paper, preferably in the form of a roll I3 (Fig. 3) arranged with its axis transverse to the side walls I0; Where a roll of paper is used, it need notbe journaled within the device, but can be loosely accommodated. This greatly facilitates the loading of the unit.

The bottom of the box is composed of two overlying leaves. The inner leaf is hinged at l5 to the front wall H. The outer leaf i6 is hinged at IT to the rear wall 12. The free end of the paper emanating from the supply roll l3 passes around the free edge [8 of the leaf N. This is best depicted in Figure 2 in which the free end of the paper is designated by the reference numeral l9. It will be noticed that it is threaded beneath a retaining strip 20 secured to the outer leaf l6 adjacent to the free edge of the latter. The strip 20 is preferably composed of a thin element of plastic, and it may be secured in posiv tion by rivets 2| or the like.

A means is provided for normally retaining the inner leaf N in a closing relation to the box. I have found it satisfactory to secure a bar or strip 22 to the inner face of the leaf l4 adjacent to the free edge l8, the bar 22 being adapted to engage frictionally with the inner faces of side walls It, as best shown in Figure 5.

To load the device, the parts are first adjusted into the condition shown in Figure 3. The roll of paper 13 is inserted into the body of the box,

and the end 19 is extended across the upper face of the leaf l6 and threaded beneath the retaining element 20. The inner leaf N is then swung down into the closed condition shown in Figures 2 and 5. This looks in and conceals the roll of paper l3, but leaves a space adjacent to the free edge ll! of the leaf l4 through which additional paper lengths may be withdrawn as required. To bring the. parts intov a closed condition, the box is tilted forwardly from. the position of Figure 2 to that of Figure 1.

In normal usage, the box is tilted back and forth between the positions shown in Figures 1- and 2.

The device may be constructed ofvvarious materials and in various ways and lendsitself' readily to aesthetic variations. shown in the present drawings is intended to permit the employment of attractive leathers or similar ornamental materials.

In the. illustrated construction, the side walls III are composed of'wood, and the front and rear walls II and I2, as well as the. leaves 1.4; and I5, are integral parts of.' a single extended. length. of

sheet material, such as cardboard. The. various elements are suitably covered with ornamental material such asleather, and the upper face of the leaf I6 is preferably provided with an additional layer of plastic or similar pressure-resistant material so as to enhance its usefulness as a writing base. Thus, in Figure 4,. 23 is the basic cardboard or equivalent material of which the leaf I6 is composed. On its upper face is a layer 24 of ornamental sheet material such as paper or leather. overlying this is the plastic layer 25. 26 is. the ornamental outer covering, composed. of. leather or equivalent material, which extends around the edges of: the assembly, as shown. In similar: fashion, the other parts of the structure may be covered with leather or the like, although such details have. not. been shown in. the present drawings since they are well known per se.

For purposes of further ornamental or utilitarian embellishment, the. leaf I4. may bear on its exposed face a calendar 21 or other. similar marking; or provision may be. made for accommodation. of a photograph. or the like. On the o 1 1 ter surface of the front wall. it may be desirable to. provide similar embellishment. or a The construction.

means for supporting a clock, a photograph, a monogram, or other features of ornamentation.

In general, it will be understood that these and other details of construction may obviously be varied by those skilled in the art. Such details are herein given merely by way of illustration and variation may be made without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention-and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A memorandum device comprising a pair of upstanding substantially triangular side walls, a front wall slanting rearwardly upward, a rear wall slanting rearwardy downward, said walls defining a tent-like box adapted to accommodate a roll of paper arranged with its axis transverse tosaid side Walls, a box bottom composed of overlying leaves the inner of which is hinged to said front wall and. the. outer of which is hinged to the rear wall, said box resting normally on both said leaves and being tiltable rearwardly to rest on said rear wall. and thereby expose the inner face of the outer of said leaves, said leaf being provided on said inner face with a pressure resistant material whereby when said box is tilted rearwardly said leaf is adapted to serve as a Writing base for the end of the paper roll emerging from behind the free end of the inner of said. leaves, a retaining strip mounted on said outer leaf adjacent its free end and extending parallel to said free end and slightly spaced from said leaf to permit passage beneath it of the end of said paper roll, and a means for releasably inter-engaging said inner leaf and the side walls of the box to retain said inner leaf in. a closing relation to said side walls whereby said paper roll is: retained within the box. during the. tilting movements thereof;

HARVEY. LA'IHROP.

REFERENCES. CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES. PATENTS Number Name Date 2,393,568 Root Jan. 22, 1946 2,566,989 Lathrop Sep.t..4, 1951 

